Announcements 2025.3.21

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Future Harvest Upcoming Events -- Various Dates, Starting: March 26, 2025
2.) Blue Ridge PRISM Events – Various Dates, Starting: March 26, 2025
3.) Upcoming Water Research Foundation Webcasts – March 27, 2025 and May 6, 2025
4.) Call for Student Posters: American Water Resources Association (AWRA) 2025 Spring Conference – Submissions Due: March 28, 2025; Conference: April 28-30, 2025
5.) Virginia Forest Landowner News – Various Dates, Starting: March 28, 2025
6.) Volunteer Opportunities: Elizabeth River Project – Various Dates, Starting: March 29, 2025
7.) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Following Hurricane Helene (FEMA-DR-VA-4831) – Pre-Application Deadline: March 30, 2025
8.) Comments Accepted: Petition for Bycatch Reduction Devices in Near-shore Water Crab Pots – Comment Period Ends: March 31, 2025
9.) Leo Bourassa Scholarship – Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
10.) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) News
   ++ WIFIA Office Hours -- April 9, 2025
   ++ New Letter of Interest (LOI) and Application Materials
11.) 2025 Youth Conservation Camp – Application Deadline: May 5, 2025; Camp: July 13-19, 2025  
12.) American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) International News
   ++ On-line Professional Rainwater Harvesting Classes
   ++ Online Database of ASSE-Certified Rainwater Harvesting Professionals 
   ++ ARCSA Videos
13.) Chesapeake Bay Commission 2024 Annual Report – https://www.chesbay.us/annual-reports
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
See recent announcements and learn more about the Virginia Water Monitoring Council (VWMC) at www.VirginiaWMC.org. Feel free to forward these announcements. When forwarding, please acknowledge the VWMC. If you have a water-related announcement of regional or statewide interest, send it to vw...@vt.edu and ask that it be distributed to the VWMC membership. If someone forwarded this message to you, you can join the VWMC for free by sending your name, water-monitoring affiliation (if applicable), and contact information (email address, mailing address, and phone number) to vw...@vt.edu. Thank you to the VWMC’s intern, Logan Flanagan, for developing today’s announcements. 
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
1.) Future Harvest Upcoming Events – Learn more at https://futureharvest.org/.
   ++ Field Day -- March 26, 2025 (10am-1pm) -- Leonardtown, MD
   ++ On Farm Cosmotionz: Mindfulness, Yoga, and Meditation -- April 5, 2025 (11am-2pm) -- Brandywine, MD
   ++ Growing & Marketing a Year-Round, Full-Diet CSA – April 10, 2025 (10am-1pm) -- Purcellville, VA
++++++++++++++++++++
2.) Blue Ridge PRISM Events -- Learn more about events and register at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/blue-ridge-prism-virginia-31070464381.
   ++ Spring Invasive Plant Webinar: "Unlucky Thirteen" -- March 26, 2025 (12-1pm) – Will focus on 13 new additions to the Virginia Invasive Plant Species List and how to identify and control their spread.
   ++ Spring Invasive Plant Workshop (In-Person) – March 30, 2025 (11am-1pm) – Crozet, Va.
   ++ Invasive Plant Identification Walk at State Arboretum of Virginia -- April 1, 2025 (10-10:45am) – Boyce, Va.
   ++ Webinar: Blue Ridge PRISM Spring Meeting: Restoration After Invasive Plant Removal – April 16, 2025 (11:30am-1pm)
   ++ Virginia Invasive Plant ID & Control Tool – This online tool helps individuals identify invasive plant species. Learn more and access the tool at https://blueridgeprism.org/plants.
++++++++++++++++++++
3.) Upcoming Water Research Foundation Webcasts – Learn more and register at https://www.waterrf.org/webcasts.
   ++ Utility Field Guide for Developing a Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin Monitoring Program -- March 27, 2025
   ++ Role of Generative AI (GenAI) for the Global Water Sector -- May 6, 2025
++++++++++++++++++++
4.) Call for Student Posters: American Water Resources Association (AWRA) 2025 Spring Conference – Submissions Due: March 28, 2025; Conference: April 28-30, 2025 – Anchorage, AK – Theme: “Development Risks & Challenges in Changing Climate Conditions” – Full-time students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate (masters and Ph.D. levels) programs are eligible to present posters describing their research. Posters can describe collaborative research carried out by multiple authors (including non-students) but must be presented by a student. Learn more at https://www.awra.org/Members/Events_and_Education/Events/2025%20Landing%20Pages/01_SPRING/Spring2025.aspx.  Organized by the American Water Resources Association.
++++++++++++++++++++
5.) Virginia Forest Landowner News – Learn more and register for these and other events at https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/eventscalendar.html. Provided by Virginia Cooperative Extension.
   ++ Fifteen Minutes in the Forest -- Fourth Fridays (12:15) -- The Woods in Your Backyard (March 28, 2025); Bobcats in the Bush (April 25, 2025); Brush Piles (May 23, 2025) – See archived videos at Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VFLEP) or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/VirginiaForestLandownerEducationProgram).
   ++ Woodland Owner Retreat – March 28-29, 2025 (Appomattox, VA); May 30-31, 2025 (Abingdon, VA); September 5-6, 2025 (Providence Forge, VA)
   ++ Online Woodland Options for Landowners Short Course -- April 7-June 9, 2025
   ++ Majestic Trees of Montpelier -- April 12, 2025 (10am-12pm) -- Montpelier Station, VA -- Presented in collaboration with the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Master Naturalists.
   ++ Virginia Forestry Summit -- May 7-9, 2025 – Roanoke, VA
++++++++++++++++++++
6.) Volunteer Opportunities: Elizabeth River Project – Learn more about these and other opportunities at https://elizabethriver.org/volunteer/. Interested individuals may also sign up to be an Outreach Volunteer. Organized by the Elizabeth River Project.
   ++ Litter Clean-Ups -- March 29, 2025 (Great American Cleanup, 9-10:30am); April 26, 2025 (9-10:30am) -- Norfolk, VA
   ++ Paradise Creek Nature Park – Various Dates: April 5, 2025 to June 14, 2025 (9-11am) -- Portsmouth, VA
   ++ Landscape Maintenance at Ryan Resilience Lab -- April 10, 2025; April 24, 2025 (10am-Noon) – Norfolk, VA
++++++++++++++++++++
7.) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Following Hurricane Helene (FEMA-DR-VA-4831) – Pre-Application Deadline: March 30, 2025 – The grant provides funding for property acquisition and demolition, mitigation reconstruction, infrastructure protection, updating mitigation plans, drainage improvements, and flood control projects. Local governments, state agencies, certain NGOs, and tribal governments are encouraged to apply. Learn more at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/learn/hazard-mitigation-assistance-guidance and submit a pre-application form at https://vdem.emgrants.com/. Funded through the Virginia Department of Environmental Management (VDEM).
++++++++++++++++++++
8.) Comments Accepted: Petition for Bycatch Reduction Devices in Near-shore Water Crab Pots – Comment Period Ends: March 31, 2025 – The Virginia Marine Resources Commission is accepting comments on a petition aimed at protecting Diamondback Terrapins from mortality in blue crab pots by requiring bycatch reduction devices in near-shore crab pots. Learn more and submit a comment at https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/viewpetition.cfm?petitionid=427.
++++++++++++++++++++
9.) Leo Bourassa Scholarship – Application Deadline: April 1, 2025 – Any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a water resources program at a Virginia college or university is eligible to apply. Learn more and apply at https://vlwa.org/committees-and-activities/scholarship/. Offered by the Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association.
++++++++++++++++++++
10.) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) News – Offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
   ++ WIFIA Office Hours -- April 9, 2025 (3-4pm) – These sessions allow participants to ask questions about WIFIA, the application process, and more. Lera more and register to attend at https://www.epa.gov/wifia/upcoming-wifia-program-events.
   ++ New Letter of Interest (LOI) and Application Materials – This LOI aims to better serve private borrowers applying for WIFIA grants. The new LOI and application forms clarify Master Agreement requests and streamline the information needed for a project review. Learn more and access the materials at https://www.epa.gov/wifia/wifia-application-materials.
++++++++++++++++++++
11.) 2025 Youth Conservation Camp – Application Deadline: May 5, 2025; Camp: July 13-19, 2025 – Blacksburg, VA – This week-long summer conservation camp is for Virginia high school students and brings together 70 students to learn about natural resources from Virginia’s natural resources and conservation professionals at Virginia Tech. Instruction is hands-on and outdoors. Scholarship funding to cover the registration fee may be available from your local Soil & Water Conservation District. Learn more and apply at https://vaswcd.org/conservation-camp/. Organized by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and partners.
++++++++++++++++++++
12.) American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) International News
   ++ On-line Professional Rainwater Harvesting Classes – These online versions of ARCSA’s Rainwater Catchment Systems Designer, Installer, and Inspector as well as recertification classes help participants study for the ASSE Rainwater Professional Designer Certification Exam. Access the ARCSA class catalogue at https://iapmolearn.org/topclass/searchCatalog.do?catId=3680662.
   ++ Online Database of ASSE-Certified Rainwater Harvesting Professionals – Access the database at https://forms.iapmo.org/asse/certified/.
   ++ ARCSA Videos – Access videos and other educational resources at https://arcsainternational.org/resources/videos.
++++++++++++++++++++
13.) Chesapeake Bay Commission 2024 Annual Report – Available at https://www.chesbay.us/annual-reports.
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
The VWMC announcements are provided with support from the Virginia Water Resources Research Center. Thank you to our sponsor!

You too can sponsor the VWMC announcements.  Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the VWMC to support information updates and other VWMC activities.  Make checks payable to: “The Virginia Tech Foundation” and on the memo portion of the check include “VWMC Fund #872802.” Mail contributions to the Virginia Water Resources Research Center (0444, Attn: Jane Walker) at 210 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech; 310 West Campus Drive; Blacksburg, VA 24061.